Meeting Others

Hmmm, meeting others. Do I mean new friends, or family you didn't know you had? Friends you haven't seen for a year, or 20 years.

I remember how nice it was to see Sarah at my 30th college reunion. Sarah and I were roommates in college, we were bridesmaids in each other's weddings, and the last time I saw her, she was pregnant with her second child (who was about to graduate himself). We had so much fun talking about our lives, work, kids, old classmates, and choir tours. We stay in touch at Christmas and through Face Book.

Ken wants to go to Seattle to see an old friend from his days in the service. TJ calls regularly, so often that I feel like I know him, though I've never met him. Ken is starting to feel a sense of urgency about meeting TJ. Neither one is in great health, and time marches on, faster and faster.

The Postle family reunion is in a couple of weeks. I've been invited though I'm related only by marriage. Should I go? Probably. Will I? Probably not.

Meeting others.

Meeting Others, 11/9/09

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to meet four other people who have YOPD (and two of their spouses). I hope it’s the first of many such gatherings. It’s been billed as the “Columbus Lunch,” and was the brainstorm of Cookie and DKblues. Their idea was to gather as many Buckeyes as possible at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus in German Village. DK (from the Akron/Canton area), David and his wife (from Pomeroy), John and his wife (from Cincinnati), Kim (from Ontario, Canada), and me (from Cleveland) – we stuffed ourselves with excellent German food, and talked for 2 1/2 hours about our lives, kids, the healthcare system, and living and coping with PD. No one remembered to bring a camera, but everyone had a camera phone! Though there weren’t that many of us, I think the small number worked better since the restaurant was noisy. I really enjoyed myself, and it was so nice to meet other PWP who know and can relate to my frustrations and successes. Here’s to many more “Buckeye Bashes!”